The PMD 85 was a Slovak school computer built around a Czechoslovak clone of the Intel 8080, designed by Roman Kišš at Tesla Piešťany and in production from 1985.
Why it matters
It filled Slovak classrooms and Pioneer clubs at a time when a Western computer was out of reach, and it did the job with parts Tesla could actually get: an MHB 8080A clone, domestic TTL logic and plug-in ROM modules in place of a disk drive. The design kept developing for four years, through the PMD 85-2, 2A and 3, and spawned clones such as the Didaktik Alfa and Beta. When Czechoslovakia opened up in 1989, schools could buy an Amiga or an Atari ST instead, and production ended.
What to check before you buy
- Check the revision first. A PMD 85-1 and a PMD 85-3 differ in keyboard, RAM, ROM size and colour output.
- Press every key. The first machines used stiff telephone-style switches, and they wear unevenly.
- Ask whether the ROM modules are included. BASIC-G was the standard one, and without a module the machine does very little.
- Look for signs of heat damage near the linear power supply.
- Expect to buy from a Slovak or Czech seller; shipping and customs can cost more than the machine.
